I’m going to be honest, St. Patrick’s Day really snuck up on me this year. Anyone else? It feels like New Year’s was just yesterday. But then it also feels like New Year’s was a life time ago. It’s been busy and crazy. But after a very productive few days, I’m finally feeling confident and back on my A game. It’s crazy what a couple good days can do for one’s self confidence, I surely needed them!...

I’m always looking for new and interesting salads to go along with our everyday meals. Some of my favorites include a healthy arugula salad, classic caprese salad, creamy waldorf salad, tangy mandarin orange salad and this simple, yet totally satisfying Sunomono salad. Japanese cucumber salad is the perfect accompaniment to any Asian inspired meal. While this dish is often served alongside sushi, yakitori or a teriyaki chicken bowl, it’s also great with other Asian dishes including beef bulgogi, Asian meatballs and beef lo mein....

After a really busy work week, I am back with a simple yet really refreshing summer cool drink – Kulukki Sarbath. This is a sweet and spicy lemonade that is shaken before being poured out onto a large glass tumbler. I have only had lemonade all my life and to be honest, I am not even a fan. During one of our very many trips we take to Kerala (we love the God’s own country), we tried Kulukki Sarbath for the first time and we fell in love with it....

Exciting things going on here today, and they all start off with this late summer vegetable Bolognese with creamy polenta. Yep, three very exiting things to share today. Exciting thing number one! Today is little (or maybe not so little anymore) Miss Asher’s 9th birthday! For everyone who may be wondering, Asher is not my daughter. Nope, she is just my little sister, who I am whole heartedly obsessed with....

We love tiramisu and ever since I made this rose tiramisu last year, my daughter has been asking for a lemon version. I finally got to it, after a year! She absolutely loves lemony desserts and gave thumbs up to this version. Classic tiramisu is a traditional italian dessert consisting of layers of coffee soaked ladyfinger cookies, a sweet mascarpone cheese and egg yolks mixture and finished with a dusting of cocoa powder....

And by that, I simply mean I am in full on apple mode. Gimme all those delicious crispy apples so I can put them in, on and with EVERYTHING. No seriously, that’s how it’s going down these days. All the apples please! Watch the how-to video here: Pumpkin Spice, Maple Glazed Apple Fritters from Half Baked Harvest on Vimeo. So let’s see, where should I start today? I actually don’t have all that much rambling to do....

Clearly I am beyond excited about this little snack board. I’ve made it no secret that this summer has been all about good snacks for me… …example one: summer garden guacamole …example two: marinated cherry tomatoes with burrata SIDE NOTE: I spent Thursday, Friday and Saturday in the kitchen for honestly twelve hours straight filming some new, quick, but fun videos for you guys. It was a lot of work, but a lot of fun too....

Have you guys ever had hot pot? I am personally fairly new to the concept, but after making my first Pho a few weeks back, I was hooked on the idea. In fact, according to the experts at McCormick Hot Pot is one of the key trends in their 2018 Flavor Forecast! If you’re too are new to the concept, hot pot is traditionally a Chinese soup consisting of simmering Asian flavored broth that’s served at the dinner table....

Cornbread gets a bad rap sometimes, but these cornbread puddings are a foolproof way to get that great flavor without even a hint of dryness. Let’s talk about cornbread. I personally love it – plain, with jam in my Thanksgiving stuffing, as a side dish to a hearty soup. It’s easy to make, my kids love it and it’s just an all around classic. BUT. All cornbread is not created equal....

Today I am sharing a very simple mushroom side dish, spiked with pepper powder and other South Indian spices – it is perfect to serve along with any variety rice or even chapati. I love mushrooms for the fact that they are easy to cook and take very little preparation to put a meal together. While Chettinadu Mushroom Biriyani and classic Mushroom Biriyani are clear favorites at home, I also make a lot of gravies/curries with mushrooms....

It’s a little naughty, but so, so nice. And decadent. Yes, very decadent, but all hot cocoa should be decadent this close to Christmas. It’s cozy time! Although, right now for me it’s moving time. Or it will be soon. Sometime today, once the barn gets cleaned of dust, hammers, screws and plastic, it’s time to move my little amount of stuff into the barn. Can you believe this is finally happening?...

In today’s Deepavali recipe series, I am sharing a simple yet utterly delicious crispy rice cracker recipe from Karnataka – Nippattu. After two back to back highly technical sweet recipes of Madatha Kaja & Athirasam, this recipe is an easy snack that can be made in a jiffy! Deepavali is incomplete without Murukku, Thattai, Omapodi or Ribbon Pakoda and this spicy Thattai recipe from Karnataka is absolutely brilliant. Karnataka Special Nippattu – Spicy Rice Crackers Kara Nippat is a crispy, golden & deliciously spicy cracker made with rice flour, fried gram, peanuts, dried coconut and sesame seeds....

If you’re got fresh peaches, you must try these amazing peach bars! They’re the perfect hand held dessert, or try them with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a decadent treat. Is anyone else on a peach kick, or is it just me? I needed to make a dessert to bring to a friend’s house and peaches were on my mind. I dismissed the idea of a pie or cobbler because I didn’t have a ton of time and also didn’t want a dessert that would be overly messy for the kids to eat....

It might not even be June yet, but I’m way too excited about all the summertime ice cream treats! And although our weather isn’t quite the warm summer temps I am dying for, my excitement for what lies ahead got the best of me. So ice cream sandwiches it is…a fun little Friday sweet treat! And trust me, these are fun! They’re so delicious and my hope is that you will keep your freezer stocked with them all summer long....

This might just be my favorite pizza. Something about the combination is so good. And while I didn’t used to think potatoes really belonged on pizza, they do! They get a little crispy, and with the pesto, plus cheese, they really are so delicious! I’m not sure why, but I’m on a real pesto kick this week making recipe after recipe with pesto as the main flavor. I think it’s these cold January days....

When I want to feel like I’m on a island vacation, I reach for a an acai bowl or a pineapple smoothie. It’s frosty, refreshing and tastes like a tropical mixed drink (without the alcohol!). We are all about the smoothies these days – they’re quick, nutritious and totally refreshing. This pineapple smoothie is a current favorite because I can’t get enough of all those tropical flavors. HOW DO YOU MAKE A PINEAPPLE SMOOTHIE?...

I know this may not seem like a big deal to most of you, but for me, it kind of is. I have never made a pot pie before. Growing up we never ate pot pies for dinner, and in my few years of cooking I just never had the desire to make one. That is until I saw these pretty Staub cast iron mini cocottes, and it hit me that I really wanted to make a pot pie....

March, April, May, and June are some of the hardest months for me weather-wise. Here in the mountains, the springtime months tend to be snowy white (March is typically the snowiest month in Colorado) followed up with mucho mud in May. It’s a long, colorless season. And frankly, it’s not really what I would call “spring”. I always say that our spring actually happens over the summer months. Then we just move right on into fall....

When I’m looking for a simple party snack, I turn to favorites such as mini pizzas, little smokies, or this fancy looking prosciutto wrapped asparagus. No one has to know how quick it is to make! Prosciutto Wrapped Asparagus Ingredients To make prosciutto wrapped asparagus you will need asparagus, olive oil, thin slices of prosciutto and black pepper. This asparagus is also a perfect side dish for main courses like smoked prime rib, roasted Cornish hen, smoked turkey breast or smoked ham....

You know, I was maybe going to share cookies today, but these rolls have been exciting me for far too long. Sometimes, I wait and wait to make recipes that I’m really excited about. Mostly because I fear I will mess them up, and mentally, that makes me sad. I know—so silly. It’s kind of like dragging my feet in a way. But with the businesses and hustle of life these days, there isn’t time for that!...